"I see! I see! Why, Nelly, you must be rather a persevering little girl, I think."
"I don't like to give up any thing when once I begin," said Nelly. "Is that persevering?"
"That is persevering," replied Mr. Grayson, apparently much amused; "and an excellent thing it is. And you say you have got—how much money?"
"Twenty-five dollars that I earned, and five dollars of granny's. And please, sir, granny would have paid in the summer, only she spent the money to buy clothes for me to wear to Sunday-school, because I cried because a lady called me a ragamuffin. I didn't know it till to-day."
"Oh, ho!" said Mr. Grayson. "Well, Nelly, see here. I want to think about this matter a little and to make some inquiries. You may go home now, and come here again to-morrow afternoon. And Nelly, you had better not take your money home, but give it to Mrs. Kirkland to keep for you. Your house is not very secure, and something might happen. Don't you be troubled, my girl," he added, seeing that Nelly looked disappointed. "I mean to do exactly what is right by you and your granny; and, anyhow, I sha'n't turn you into the street. I dare say I was rough with the old woman this morning. You see, Nelly, people think that because I am rich it doesn't matter whether I have my dues or not. So they try to cheat me; and that makes me angry."
"Granny would not cheat you," said Nelly, rather indignantly. "She never cheated anybody."
"Good for you, Nelly! Always stand up for granny." He put his hand in his pocket, and took out twenty-five cents. "Suppose I give you this for your own; what will you do with it?"
"Pay it to you for the house," said Nelly, slyly.
Mr. Grayson laughed. "That would be hardly worth my while, Nelly. But what would you buy for yourself?"
"Some tobacco for granny. She is old, you know, and she can't do without her pipe," said Nelly, in a tone of apology. "I wish she would; for it makes the place smell so. But please, Mr. Grayson, I would rather you would not give me any money just now,—not when we owe you so much. It don't seem fair, somehow."